Ubuntu – Creating Custom Ubuntu distrubution with custom users, files and packages

16.04custom-distributions

My requirement is to make a Custom Ubuntu 16.04.5 version in which the customization that i want is addition of two different users some new files in each of these two users and some new packages or drivers which i will either install with apt or pip or will build from source itself (like OpenCV).

This custom OS is expected to be used to installed on different hardwares which might vary in terms of motherboard, RAM and HDD/SSD.

Can you suggest me some software best suited for this task?
I heard of Cubic also but will it works for creating users and building packages from source?
Or Setting up one machine with all settings and packages and taking a backup of the same as live CD using some tools like systemback etc will work across different hardware?

Edit: This is not duplicate to any other question as it has addition of user in custom Ubuntu and no answers have ever mentioned it.

Best Answer

This is exactly what Cubic does...

User Home Directory

In Cubic, add generic files, that should appear in all new user's home directories, inside the /etc/skel directory. Whenever a new user is created, files from this location are copied into the new user's home directory.

For example, if you want all users to have an empty Temp folder inside thir home directory, create a Temp folder inside /etc/skel. If you want all users to have the same configuration for Gimp, add it here as well. If you want all users to have the option to create *.docx, *.pptx, *.xlsx, or *.txt files by right-clicking in Nautilus, simply add the templates here.

Here is an example layout for /etc/skel...

/etc/skel
├── .bash_logout
├── .bashrc
├── .config
├── examples.desktop
├── .gimp-2.8
│   └── sessionrc
├── .kde
│   └── share
│       └── config
│           └── kdeglobals
├── .profile
├── Temp
├── Templates
│   ├── New Document.docx
│   ├── New Presentation.pptx
│   ├── New Spreadsheet.xlsx
│   └── New Text File.txt
└── .tlp
    ├── Balanced
    └── Power Save

You could potentially copy user configurations from the home directory of a running system into this directory. But I would not recommend that approach, since you have to be very careful not to copy user specific files.

User Default Settings

A better way to setup default user preferences is to create a file called 90_ubuntu-settings.gschema.override and place it in /usr/share/glib-2.0/schemas/ directory in Cubic.

Here is an example file:

[org.gnome.desktop.background]
picture-uri = 'file:///usr/share/backgrounds/warty-final-ubuntu.png'
show-desktop-icons = false

[org.gnome.desktop.screensaver]
picture-uri = 'file:///usr/share/backgrounds/warty-final-ubuntu.png'

[org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences]
button-layout = 'close,minimize,maximize:appmenu'
titlebar-font = 'Roboto Regular 10'

[org.gnome.desktop.interface]
document-font-name = 'Roboto Regular 10'
font-name = 'Roboto Regular 10'

[org.gnome.shell]
favorite-apps = ['ubiquity.desktop', 'firefox.desktop', 'org.gnome.Nautilus.desktop', 'org.gnome.gedit.desktop', 'org.gnome.Terminal.desktop', 'meld.desktop', 'libreoffice-writer.desktop', 'libreoffice-calc.desktop', 'org.gnome.Calculator.desktop', 'org.gnome.Screenshot.desktop', 'gnome-system-monitor.desktop']

(You can see what the correct keys and values are using dconf-editor. Also, look at this answer on how to backup your Gnome Tweaks configuration to a file).

Then, compile this schema file using:

glib-compile-schemas /usr/share/glib-2.0/schemas/

All users will have the preferences you specified in 90_ubuntu-settings.gschema.override.

Adding New Users

To add new users, in Cubic, use the following command for each new user you want to create:

adduser <user>

The new users will inherit the changes you made in /etc/skel, and they will have the default settings you specified in 90_ubuntu-settings.gschema.override.

Installing Applications

In addition to installing applications using apt, you can also install downloaded packages using dpkg -i <package>.deb.

Here is an example installing a package using pip:

apt install python3-pip
pip3 install yapf

These packages will be available in the ISO generated by Cubic.

Compiling Applications from Source

You can also compile packages from source. Just download or copy the source files into Cubic. Make sure you have all required build tools installed, and build your packages.

Here is an example to compile and customize Geany from source, inside Cubic:

apt install debhelper fakeroot build-essential cmake git automake autoconf libtool intltool libgtk-3-dev docutils-common
mkdir ~/Customize
cd ~/Customize
git clone https://github.com/geany/geany.git
cd geany
sed -i 's|FT_00_CM=python |FT_00_CM=python3.6 |g' ./data/filedefs/filetypes.python
sed -i 's|EX_00_CM=python |EX_00_CM=python3.6 |g' ./data/filedefs/filetypes.python
./autogen.sh --enable-gtk3 --disable-html-docs --prefix=/usr
./configure --enable-gtk3 --disable-html-docs --prefix=/usr
make
make install
git clone https://github.com/codebrainz/geany-themes.git
cp ./geany-themes/colorschemes/*.conf /usr/share/geany/colorschemes/
chmod -x /usr/share/geany/colorschemes/*.conf

The compiled and installed applications will be available in the ISO generated by Cubic.

Drivers

If you are installing drivers, be sure to install dkms. Here is an example installing bluetooth an microcode drivers. I've also been successful setting up Nvidia drivers in Cubic.

# Dynamic Kernel Module Support Framework
apt intall dkms

# Broadcom 802.11 Linux STA wireless driver source
apt intall bcmwl-kernel-source 

# intel-microcode - Processor microcode firmware for Intel CPUs
# iucode-tool - Intel processor microcode tool
apt intall intel-microcode iucode-tool

Also, in my experience, it is a good idea to not change or update the kernel Cubic if you are going to install drivers. This is because the chroot environment uses the same kernel as your host machine, so, sometimes, the drivers are installed for that kernel.

Creating a custom 12.04 CD with Gnome-Classic using Ubuntu-Builder

(for now, this is specific to Karthik's needs; I will update answer later with more general/Unity-specific stuff)

1. Get Ubuntu Builder and your source ISO

Ubuntu Builder automates many of the preliminary steps that had to be done by hand (mount ISO, extract squashfs, create chroot, etc.) It gives you Synaptic and a "graphical" chroot as well (Unity UI).

Add the PPA to install Ubuntu Builder:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kamilion/ubuntu-builder
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-builder

Also download the Ubuntu Desktop ISO you're planning to work with.

2. Ubuntu Builder Basics

Start Ubuntu Builder from the Launcher. I recommend you set all three fields to "Ubuntu" (like the actual LiveCD), because setting custom fields led to Software Center crashing. When you install, you can choose your own username, machine name, etc. as always.
Load your ISO; I loaded the 64-bit with the Local Disk option, although Ubuntu Builder should be able to download the ISO if you want it to.
The buttons on the right are self-explanatory. Console gives you a CLI chroot, while Desktop gives you a graphical one!, i.e. a LiveCD session itself (this one may take a while to load). Note that the Select DE/WM does an incomplete job sometimes, so it's better to install via apt-get/Synaptic.

3. Updating, adding Gnome Classic and other package management

Note: All this can also be done from Synaptic if you are more comfortable with that.

You can edit the sources.list with the button (or via the console) to add your own mirrors, ppas, etc.

Let's start with:

Remove the games

apt-get remove --purge aisleriot gnome-games-data gnomine mahjongg -y

Do a general update and dist-upgrade to the latest stuff (optional, but recommended since the Gnome-classic and other packages you add will be the latest versions) -- on 12.04, this step also installs Thunderbird and the core Samba components. It will also save time on the actual install.
```
apt-get update && apt-get dist-upgrade
```
Install Gnome Classic (gnome-shell to pull in indicators, etc.), Samba and SSH:
```
apt-get install gnome-shell samba ssh
```

4. Customization 1: Files, configs and removing the top-panel

Note: All commands must be run from the chrooted console of Ubuntu Builder unless otherwise noted (usually when copying files from your own system). The absolute path of the chroot is /home/ubuntu-builder/FileSystem

Replace Samba configuration file (from your own system terminal, i.e. outside chroot!)
```
sudo cp /path/to/mysmb.conf /home/ubuntu-builder/FileSystem/etc/samba/smb.conf
```

Put Firefox shortcut on desktop:

mkdir -p /etc/skel/Desktop && cd /etc/skel/Desktop
cp /usr/share/applications/firefox.desktop .
chmod +x firefox.desktop

Copy custom shortcuts and folders to Desktop (from outside chroot!)

sudo cp -r /path/to/mydesktopitems/ /home/ubuntu-builder/FileSystem/etc/skel/Desktop/

Set gnome-classic as the default shell:

/usr/lib/lightdm/lightdm-set-defaults -s gnome-classic

Remove the top Gnome-Classic panel and move top-items to the bottom-panel:
- Open the default panel layout:
```
nano /usr/share/gnome-panel/panel-default-layout.layout
```
- Delete the top-panel, by removing lines 1-4:
```
[Toplevel top-panel]
expand=true
orientation=top
size=24
```
- Move the Start Menu to the bottom left by modifying the bolded value for the italicized parameter as below:
```
[Object menu-bar]
object-iid=PanelInternalFactory::MenuBar
toplevel-id=bottom-panel
pack-index=0
```
- Move the indicators to the bottom right, just to the left of the Workspace Switcher, by modifying the bolded value for the italicized parameters as below:
```
[Object indicators]
object-iid=IndicatorAppletCompleteFactory::IndicatorAppletComplete
toplevel-id=bottom-panel
pack-type=end
pack-index=1
```
- Remove the "Show Desktop" button from the bottom left; I prefer the Start Menu to be the first thing there, you can leave it or move it to the bottom right, etc. Delete these lines:
```
[Object show-desktop]
object-iid=WnckletFactory::ShowDesktopApplet
toplevel-id=bottom-panel
pack-index=0
```
- Save and exit.

5. Customization 2: Backgrounds and Themes

Note: /usr/share/glib-2.0/schemas contains most of the default background/theme settings; I found it easier to directly modify those for a LiveCD instead of having to deal complicated stuff just to, for example, prevent the login screen background from being the same as the desktop background.

Disable the login screen (lightdm) from "copying" the desktop background and other changes:
- Open nano /usr/share/glib-2.0/schemas/com.canonical.unity-greeter.gschema.xml
- You can change the login background from the default here if you want:
```
<key name="background" type="s">
<default>'/usr/share/backgrounds/warty-final-ubuntu.png'</default>
```
- Disable "copying" the desktop background by setting this to false:
```
<key name="draw-user-backgrounds" type="b">
<default>false</default>
```
- Set the login theme to Radiance:
```
  <key name="theme-name" type="s">
<default>'Radiance'</default>
```
Change the default wallpaper; here, we'll set it to the included "Tie My Boat" (/usr/share/backgrounds/Tie_My_Boat_by_Ray_García.jpg):
- Open nano /usr/share/glib-2.0/schemas/10_gsettings-desktop-schemas.gschema.override, and change the below line to the path for your file:
```
picture-uri='file:///usr/share/backgrounds/warty-final-ubuntu.png'
```
Change the theme to Radiance
- Open Ubuntu's theme override file ``nano /usr/share/glib-2.0/schemas/ubuntu-artwork.gschema.override`, and change the Ambiance below to Radiance:
```
[org.gnome.desktop.interface]
gtk-theme="Ambiance"
...
[org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences]
theme="Ambiance"
```
Important: Compile the modified schemas!
- Now that we're done customizing, compile the modified schemas with:
```
glib-compile-schemas /usr/share/glib-2.0/schemas 
```

6. Build, test and install!

Press the Build button in Ubuntu Builder to begin building the custom Live-CD ISO. UB automatically handles the cleanup, etc. that previously had to be done manually.
The ISO can be found in /home/ubuntu-builder; you can test it using the built-in QEMU, or in another virtual machine.
My finished CD size was 778 MB (after removing the old .23 kernel), with Unity and Gnome 3D still available if the user wishes to, so that's pretty good for a customization! :)

The following should result:

After bootup, you get the "Try Ubuntu" or "Install Ubuntu" option:
Clicking "Try" gets us our custom desktop!
And logging out (login with ubuntu, blank password) shows that the login wallpaper is kept at the default:
Installer does not crash upon Timezone selection:
Select username, etc. for install:
Installed login screen:
Installed desktop:

Ubuntu – Difference between OEM install and custom Ubuntu image

The OEM Install

The OEM install allows machine by machine customization.
It does not create an ISO image, but customizes a single machine.
Customization is done at the stage of installation.

Advantages

Do not require a custom iso.
Each machines can have different customization.
Suitable for small number of customized machines, each with its own set of customization.
Also suitable for uncustomized machines where user gets to setup her own settings.

Disadvantages

If each machine needs to be customized the same way, they still have to be done individually at the time of install and thus, will take longer.
You will need some other tools to create an iso image.

Custom Ubuntu Image

On the other hand custom Ubuntu Image allows making a single customized iso.
Copy it in multiple CD/DVD/USB
Deploy the same image in multiple machines quickly.